Tape-line box



' (ModeL) H. E. DIGKHUT.

TAPE LINE BOX. No. 332,505. Patented. Dec. 15, 1885.

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nvawiaz UNrrs TATES HENRY E. DIOKHUT, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

TAPE-LINE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,505,dated December 15. 1885.

Application filed July 17, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HEXRY E. DIOKHUT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tape-Line Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the boxes or cases within which tape lines or ribbons used in measuring are inclosed when not in use; and my said invention consists ofa sheet-metal box or case formed in two parts, made separable from each other and held together by a screw and nut on the spindle, whereby said box can be 0pened,when desired, to straighten outthe ribbons, should the same become tangled or caught, as sometimes happens.

As now usually practiced, the cases for con taining tape-lines are made of a solid structure-that is, no access can be had to the interior of the said case after it has once been put together by the manufacturer. The result of this is that many tape-measures are injured, and not unfrequently become entirely useless, simply owing to the tape catching within its case or becoming twisted or unevenly wound upon its spindle, and there being no way to open the case to adjust the said tape. To obviate this difficulty is the object of this invention, which is accomplished by constructing the case in two detachable parts, as will now be explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawings fora better con1prehension of the details thereof, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a tape-measuring box or case constructed ac cording to my invention,and Fig. 2is a vertical transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 represents a View of the seetion,of the case removed from each other.

The box or case is made, )referably,of sheet metal in two sections or halves, A and B, the part A fitting within the part B, and the said part A carries the usual spindle, G, for the attachment of the inner end of the measure, to

Serial No. 171,855. ()loilcl.)

which spindle the usual crank-arm, D, is secured at one end, and at the other end ascrewthread, S, is formed to receive a nut, T, by which the two parts of the case are secured to each other against accidentaldisplacement. At the center of the other member, B, is a hole, a, to receive the end of the said spindlebearing S, and equally upon each member the exit-slot F is formed for the tape-line. At each side of the slot F on the member A is secured pins 0 0, whose outer ends project beyond the edge of the part B, and when the two parts A and B are together project through holesf in the memberB. The object of these pins is to strengthen the edges of the exit-slot and prevent injury to the same, or its edges being bentin ward by a blow or pressure at this point.

The box is made of sheet metal struck up by a die into the proper shape; or it may be of cast metal. The advantages of this form of box or case for measuring tape-n1easures is, as before stated, that the line may be adjusted or repaired or straightened, should such at any time become necessary, which is not possible with such cases as now made of which I am aware.

As hereinbefore stated, the spindle C carries at one end the crank D, for winding the tapeline, and at the other end has a screw-threaded portion, S, to receive a nut by which the two halves of the case are held in position; but it must be borne in mind that the said bindingnut must not press against the ease sufficiently to cause undue friction between the parts, otherwise the turning of the crank will be prevented by the binding of the nut against the ease, or the said nut will be unscrewed from the spindle. To prevent this, the thread upon the spindle is only cut thereon such a distance or length as to permit the nut to come up to but not press against the case, and the two halves of the said case are fitted close and sung to each other, so that the friction between them will prevent the ready separation thereof. There will therefore be no opportunity for undue friction between the nut and the case. If desired or found necessary, a thin washer may be interposed behind the nut, which will prevent its binding against the ease or being affected by the revolution of the spindle.

Having thus fully described my invention,

cure by Letters Patent of the United States, together, and an exit-slot, F, having pins 0 is secured at each side thereof, as shown, for the As a new article of manufacture, the case or purposes specified. box for containin measuring tape lines or v a ribbons herein desc ribed, composed of the two HEN RY D IOKHUT' In presence ofwhat I claim as new therein, and desire to se- I end, nut T, for securing the sections of the case 10 l struck-up sheet-metal sections A B, having a central spindle, O, with a crank-arm at one ALBERT BERGER, end and screw-thread S formed upon the other LoUIs H. BERGER. 

